Palmer couple lands unique opportunity with Alaska’s first Cabela’s store

PALMER — Like many Alaskans who love hunting, fishing, boating or just spending time in the outdoors, Jehnifer and Butch Ehmann have long waited for sporting goods superstore Cabela’s to find a home in the 49th state.

Cabela’s, billed as the “world’s foremost outfitter,” is not only opening its first store in Alaska, but the Ehmanns have landed a role with the business.

Jehnifer and Butch Ehmann of Palmer — local outdoors enthusiasts and activists, and founders of Ehmann Outdoors — are now pro staffers with the new Cabela’s Anchorage store, which officially opens Thursday with a ribbon cutting at 10:45 a.m.

“It’s a dream come true and we are honored,” Jehnifer Ehmann said by email Monday afternoon. “As Alaskans, we are uniquely connected and rooted in our outdoor pursuits and there’s not a company who truly represents this heritage more than Cabela’s.”

As a pro staffer, Ehmann said it presents an opportunity to reach out to customers and the community with outdoor-related information.

“This information can vary from questions about salmon run timing, trip planning, gear selection, to general local knowledge about hunting and fishing opportunities in Alaska,” Ehmann said.

They will also be available to give valuable advice.

“Pro staffers are relied upon for their local knowledge, experience and expertise. Also key is being able to communicate and disseminate the knowledge gained from time spent in the outdoors. Alaska is majestic, but it can also be harsh,” Ehmann said. “To enjoy yourself, preparation is key. As pro staffers with local knowledge, we hope to help others prepare themselves to be safe and successful while venturing out.”

The Ehmanns are born-and-raised third-generation Alaskans, and boast they “grew up with a fishing rod in one hand and a gun in the other,” on their website, ehmannoutdoors.com. Earlier this year, Ehmann Outdoors presented the Mat-Su Kids Ice Fishing Derby. Both are Alaska Department of Fish and Game hunter safety instructors and Alaska Moose Federation members. They have hosted a number of seminars. Jehnifer Ehmann is also the chair of the Mat Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee. Jehnifer Ehmann said their affiliation with Cabela’s will give them more opportunity to share their passion for the Alaska outdoors and help Alaskans take advantage of what the state has to offer.

“Encouraging others, specifically youth, to experience Alaska’s outdoors is what we set out to do with our outdoor education business,” Ehmann said. “Working in partnership with Cabela’s is a rare and unique opportunity and will help us reach out to a larger audience interested in discovering Alaska’s outdoors.”

As an outdoors enthusiast, Ehmann said she’s excited to have a store in Alaska, rather than relying simply on its catalog or online orders.

“Cabela’s has been a trusted Alaskan retailer for decades and most Alaskans have shared our dream of Cabela’s opening. The ability to try on, purchase and use gear in the same day will be invaluable to Alaskan outdoorsmen,” Ehmann said.

The Anchorage location, a 100,000-square-foot store, is located at 155 W. 104th Ave. in South Anchorage near the intersection of Minnesota and C Street, next to Target. The store, the company’s 53rd location in North America, has a weekend’s worth of festivities planned to celebrate its grand opening. The Ehmanns will be at the store from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The list of guests also includes Iditarod veteran DeeDee Jonrowe. The Willow musher will appear at the store from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit cabelas.com/anchorage or call 341-3400.

Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.